Disaster Readiness and Risk

Reduction
MODULE 5

Basic Concept of Hazard

Learning Targets

I can describe how hazard affect risk.

I can distinguish hazard from the other components of disaster risk.
I can distinguish natural hazards form the other types of hazard.
I can explain the difference in characteristics of small and large hazard events.
I can determine the steps in hazard assessment.

What is hazard?
Hazards are the potentials for damage to man and his environment that may result from
the occurrence of natural events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, and storm
surges. An event per se does not constitute a hazard. It is only when man and his environment
arte threatened that these events can be considered hazards. Without a threat to a population, the
eruption of an isolated volcano remains an event but when volcanic activity occurs close to or
right at the center of a populated area, a mere event becomes a hazard. The probabilities of
occurrence of hazard events may be estimated. Floods, for example, have been monitored and
recorded over many years and so the likelihood of occurrence of these is known.

Types of Hazard and Examples for Each

(After Hewitt and Burton 1971)

Geologic Hydrologic Atmospheric Biologic Man-Made

Earthquakes Floods-river Typhoons or Epidemic in Transport
 Vibrations and coastal hurricanes humans accidents
 Ground rupture
 Liquefaction
 Earthquake-
Induced
Landslides
 Tsunami
Volcanic eruption Wave action Thunderstorms Epidemic in Industrial
 Lava flow plants explosions and
 Volcanic gas fires
 Pyroclastic flow
 Tephra fall
 Lahar
 Volcanic debris

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  Avalanche
Geologic Hydrologic Atmospheric Biologic Man-Made
Rainfall-induced Drought Excessive Epidemic in Accidental
landslides rainfall animals release of toxic
chemicals,
radiological
material,
biologic
material, oil,
etc.
Rapid-sediment Rapid glacier Tornadoes Locusts Nuclear
movement advance Accidents
Subsidence Heavy snowfalls Collapse of
public
buildings
Sinkhole formation Hail WMD –
weapons of
mass
destruction
(biological,
nuclear,
incendiary,
chemical, and
explosive)
Impacts with space blizzards Computer virus
objects such as a
‘Trojan horse’
program
“Glaze” storms
Freezing rain
High wind
speeds
Extreme
temperatures
Lightning

Characteristics of Hazard
Characteristics of hazards magnitude - This is the strength of a hazard. Most hazards are
measured on a scale e.g. the Richter scale or the volcanic explosively index (VEI). Generally
speaking, the stronger the hazard the more severe the hazard is

Characteristics of hazards duration - The length of time that a hazard lasts for. As a
general rule the longer the hazard the more severe it is likely to be. For example, and earthquake
that lasts 1 minute is likely to be more severe than one that last two seconds and a drought that
lasts ten years is likely to be more severe than one that last three months.

Characteristics of hazards predictability - Some hazards are easier to predict than others.
For example, volcanoes normally give warning signs before they erupt and tropical storms can
be tracked from development to landfall. However, others like earthquakes are much harder to
predict. Generally speaking, hazards that hit with no warning are going to be more serious.

Characteristics of hazards regularity- If hazards happen often and in quick succession

e.g. an earthquake followed by multiple aftershocks then then the severity is likely to be greater.
During hurricane seasons, countries can be hit by repeated storms each causing greater damage
because it has not been possible to recover from previous damage.

Characteristics of hazards frequency- The return interval of hazards of certain sizes. For
example, earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 happen on average once a year, but

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earthquakes of only 3 or 4 happen many times a day. If the hazard is a less frequent strong event,
then it is going to have a bigger impact.

Characteristics of hazards speed of onset - If the peak of the hazard arrives first or arrives
quickly e.g. an earthquake, then the effects are likely to be worse than one that arrives slowly e.g.
a drought.

Characteristics of hazards spatial concentration - Where hazards are located or centered. For
example, earthquakes tended to be focused along plate boundaries, whereas tropical storms tend
to be located in coastal areas in the tropics. Hazards that are located in known areas can be better
prepared for and managed better.

Characteristics of hazards areal extent- If a hazard covers a large area e.g. a drought covering
the whole of East Africa, then the severity of the hazard is likely to be more severe, than a flood
hitting just one village.

Characteristics of hazards number of hazards - If a location is hit by multiple hazards that the
affects can be more severe. For example, hazard hotspots like Indonesia can be hit by
earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and flooding all simultaneously.

Reference:

Rimando, R., & Belen, J, Phil. (2016). Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction: Basic Concept of Disaster
and Disaster Risk (First Edition). REX.

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